The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Virgin Galactic permission to build the nation's first commercialized spaceport at New Mexico's Spaceport America.  The FAA waited until a final environmental impact study was completed and approved the construction of the spaceport before announcing Virgin would get the building license.

"These two governmental approvals are the next steps along the road to a fully operational commercial spaceport," Authority executive director Steven Landeene said.  "We are on track to begin construction in the first quarter of 2009, and have our facility completed as quickly as possible."

According to the New Mexico Space Authority (NMSA), the FAA gave Spaceport America permission to create a facility for both vertical and horizontal launches.  It'll be the first spaceport built entirely from the ground up specifically for consumer passenger spaceflights.

NMSA has selected Gerald martin Construction Management to create the first spaceport, according to the NMSA.  Furthermore, Sierra and Dona Ana counties will collect taxes to help aid in the construction of the spaceport.

Spaceport America is receiving monetary support for Lockheed Martin, Rocket Racing Inc./Armadillo Aerospace, UP Aerospace, Microgravity Enterprises and Payload Specialties.

The first facility is expected to begin construction in the first half of 2009.  Space officials hope to have paying tourists in orbit by 2010, but that will depend on how fast manufacturers can develop an aircraft.

Over the next decade, Spaceport America is expected to employ thousands of high-paying jobs to a select group of skilled workers living in the region.  The future of commercial space flight largely rests in the hands with Spaceport America, as engineers and investors patiently wait to see what develops of the area in the next few years.